Pakistan, China guide new Afghan political calculus

The Taliban hoisted their black-and-white flag on the presidential palace in Kabul on September 11, which happened to be the 20th anniversary of al-Qaeda’s attack on New York and Washington, DC. The symbolism is too obvious to be missed. Although the Taliban had no hand in the 9/11 attacks, they took the brunt of the United States’ act of revenge, the invasion of Afghanistan.

No doubt, the flag-hoisting was an assertion by the Taliban that they have returned as the ruling elite 20 years after their government was overthrown, and that is a reality the US cannot ignore.

In an exclusive interview with the Chinese Communist Party daily Global Times, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen revealed that talks on government formation are still going on. “We believe in the inclusiveness of the government,” he said, adding that the final shape of the government will be known during September-October.

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